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Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Character Growth

One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Zombification Source

The film also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on people is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining